Janu-worry or Twenty-Plenty?

Issue 1 2020 Editor's Choice

When Hi-Tech Security Solutions magazine approached me to comment on the subject of mitigating risk when the budget is limited, I was intimidated. Until I realised with a grin that women in the security industry are in fact uniquely positioned to tackle this topic.


Lesley-Anne Kleyn.

You see, most of us love clothes and we want to wear quality without breaking the budget. This means that season after season, the requisite clothing-closet purge will be undertaken. Spouses, pets and children run for cover as item after item is thrown onto the bed as we root into our clothing cupboards (and theirs). Empty coat hangers fly. Shoes are tossed over-shoulder with a satisfying thud. There are entire videos dedicated to this process on YouTube and we google them all with great enthusiasm. It’s a process of organised chaos. My Rottweiler has learned to avoid these sessions as skilfully as he avoids the sound of the hosepipe turning on for his weekly bath.

Light humour aside, the idea here is sound:

a.) Make the most of what you’ve got.

b.) Invest in one or two quality basics for the long haul.

c.) Round off the look with a few inexpensive seasonal accessories.

I might take that summer dress which I’ve been wearing with sandals, add a denim jacket and heels, and it will take me through autumn. When I add a few investment pieces to my wardrobe this winter, these are probably going to be a great blazer and a good pair of winter boots, in basic colours which will go with everything that I already own. And my budget buys will probably be cheerful winter scarves in the season’s hues. With just a little planning, I will be set for the season.

What does this have to do with risk, safety and security? Well, perhaps more than what one might think. If the available security spend right now is somewhere between limited and non-existent, here are just a few suggestions, keeping the three industry pillars of manpower, technology and processes in mind.

Making the most of what is already in place:

Manpower: A manpower team is only ever going to be as good as the service provider looking after it. So if you have not been entirely happy, and have given the provider every opportunity, consider a change. There are some really good guarding providers in the industry and most will ethically take over the officers already deployed to your property, as long as the current team passes that new provider’s rigorous selection process.

Technology: Redeploying existing, ageing CCTV cameras is often overlooked when properties are preparing to upgrade. Consider a thorough CCTV audit before budgeting for an upgrade. The cost of the audit represents approximately 0,5% of what the upgrade will cost, yet represents a saving of up to 30% of the total upgrade bill in the long run.

The quality investment

Manpower: The addition of a contract manager/supervisor to an existing guarding team simply cannot be overstated. This important person, working Monday to Friday 08h00 to 17h00, will add value which outweighs the additional monthly cost by miles. Make sure that the person is the right fit and negotiate that the impact of this new role is measurable over a trial period of, say, 90 days. Most providers will be willing to carry the risk.

Technology: Using the right technology in the right critical area cannot be overstated. For example, when I see PTZ cameras promising to mimic what thermal analytics can do on a perimeter, I cringe. This is not to say that a PTZ on a perimeter might not indeed be appropriate in certain instances. But thermal/analytics and PTZs have very specific and very different job descriptions. A PTZ cannot provide an impenetrable perimeter, it’s just that simple. So investigate first, to invest wisely.

The season piece

Manpower and technology through processes: Processes! Processes! Processes! It is the intelligent combination of manpower and technology coming together into a cohesive whole through processes, which adds the value that your security spend may be lacking.

Consider a thorough analysis of the processes in place and then do it all again every six months. Analyses can be time-consuming, but represent relatively little financial cost.

A good consultant will spend many days on your site delving into the processes in place – something which your provider may not have the time to do – and will suggest areas which could benefit from a little tweaking and tightening up. Some will even do so at no charge, as a value-add to other invoiceable services.

PS: The exercise does not have to ruffle feathers. It can in fact be an exercise in tact and most providers on site will welcome the help.

Kleyn Consulting is an independent risk, safety and security consultancy with experience in a range of verticals. Based in the Western Cape Winelands, Lesley-Anne travels across South Africa. Feel free to contact her on +27 64 410 8563 or [email protected]




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Winners of the 2025 Southern Africa OSPAs
Editor's Choice
The winners of the 2025 Southern Africa Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) were revealed on Wednesday, 4th June, at Securex South Africa. Winners from all categories (except the Lifetime Achievement) will be featured in the second Global OSPAs set to take place in 2026.

Read more...
Deepfakes and digital trust
Editor's Choice
By securing the video right from the specific camera that captured it, there is no need to prove the chain of custody for the video, you can verify the authenticity at every step.

Read more...
A new generational framework
Editor's Choice Training & Education
Beyond Generation X, and Millennials, Dr Chris Blair discusses the seven decades of technological evolution and the generations they defined, from the 1960’s Mainframe Cohort, to the 2020’s AI Navigators.

Read more...
Back-up securely and restore in seconds
Betatrac Telematic Solutions Editor's Choice Information Security Infrastructure
Betatrac has a solution that enables companies to back-up up to 8 TB of data onto a device and restore it in 30 seconds in an emergency, called Rapid Access Data Recovery (RADR).

Read more...
Key design considerations for a control room
Leaderware Editor's Choice Surveillance Training & Education
If you are designing or upgrading a control room, or even reviewing or auditing an existing control room, there are a number of design factors that one would need to consider.

Read more...
CCTV control room operator job description
Leaderware Editor's Choice Surveillance Training & Education
Control room operators are still critical components of security operations and will remain so for the foreseeable future, despite the advances of AI, which serves as a vital enhancement to the human operator.

Read more...
A passport to offline backups
SMART Security Solutions Technews Publishing Editor's Choice Infrastructure Smart Home Automation
SMART Security Solutions tested a 6 TB WD My Passport and found it is much more than simply another portable hard drive when considering the free security software the company includes with the device.

Read more...
Navigating the complexities of privileged access management
Editor's Choice Access Control & Identity Management
Privileged Access Management and Identity Access Management are critical pillars of modern cybersecurity, designed to secure access to sensitive resources, enforce principles like least privilege, and implement just-in-time access controls.

Read more...
Rewriting the rules of reputation
Technews Publishing Editor's Choice Security Services & Risk Management
Public Relations is more crucial than ever in the generative AI and LLMs age. AI-driven search engines no longer just scan social media or reviews, they prioritise authoritative, editorial content.

Read more...
Efficient, future-proof estate security and management
Technews Publishing ElementC Solutions Duxbury Networking Fang Fences & Guards Secutel Technologies OneSpace Technologies DeepAlert SMART Security Solutions Editor's Choice Information Security Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry) AI & Data Analytics IoT & Automation
In February this year, SMART Security Solutions travelled to Cape Town to experience the unbelievable experience of a city where potholes are fixed, and traffic lights work; and to host the Cape Town SMART Estate Security Conference 2025.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.